Beverage Dispensing Assembly Comprising an Ingredient Container Receiving Means and a Gas Pressure Regulator and Method of Dispensing a Beverage with Such Assembly

ABSTRACT

A beverage dispensing assembly for preparing and dispensing a beverage has a source of pressurized base liquid containing dissolved CO 2 , N 2  or N 2 O and a gas pressure of at least 0.5 bar overpressure at 2° C. A beverage unit with a liquid flow path has a liquid inlet at one end in fluid communication with the base liquid in the base liquid source and a beverage outlet at an opposite end. An ingredient container receiving means has an ingredient container installed so the contents are in fluid communication with the liquid flow path for mixing the contents with a base liquid in the liquid flow path. A gas pressure regulation unit has a pressure chamber in the liquid flow path downstream of the communication between the liquid flow path and the ingredient container contents. A gas ingredient inlet is in fluid communication with the pressure chamber.

The present invention relates to a beverage dispensing device fordispensing different types of beverages or beverage components, whereinat least one of the beverage ingredients is provided for mixing theingredient with a base liquid.

More in particular, the present invention relates to such a beveragedispensing device, wherein at least one of said beverages or beveragecomponents is a malt based beverage or a malt based beverage component.

At present there is a trend to fancier kinds of beverages, whereinmultiple beverage components or beverages are added to one another so toprovide a consumer with a sensation adapted to his taste.

According to the state of the art all kinds of beverage dispensingdevices exist which allow for the dispensing of different types ofbeverages or beverage components, such as beverage dispensing devicesfor dispensing different types of coffees and teas possibly mixed withmilk, cream or sugar and so on.

Usually, the coffee or tea is made by passing hot water through coffeepowder or tea leaves respectively.

Other beverage dispensing devices are for example intended fordispensing all kinds of juices or sodas.

It is clear that such beverage dispensing devices are of a completeother category than the type of beverage dispensing devices of interestin the present invention.

Indeed, the dispensing of different types of beverages or beveragecomponents wherein at least one of the one of said beverages or beveragecomponents is a malt based beverage or a malt based beverage componentor a cider requires adapted equipment which is capable of coping withthe specific needs related to malt based beverages or beveragecomponents.

For example when dispensing a malt based beverage or beverage component,it is important to control foaming of the concerned beverage or beveragecomponent.

Furthermore, the rate of dispensing, the pressures involved duringdispensing and the volumes of liquid dispensed in beverage dispensingdevices wherein at least one of the beverages or beverage components isa malt based beverage or a malt based beverage component are usuallymuch higher than in the typical coffee machines or the like and requireadapted equipment with increased capacity and strength.

Moreover gas pressure in the beverage is considered a key component forthe refreshing sensation and taste of malt-based beverages or ciders andneeds to be kept within a narrow range (in function of temperature andbeverage type) to meet the consumers expectations, without increasingdispensing time or beverage preparation time.

It is understood that dispensing of such a beverage requires some skilland is time consuming.

It is also clear that depending on the person that is dispensing thebeverage the volume ratio of the different beverage components dispensedcan vary easily, resulting in a varying composition of the finallydispensed beverage, which is often not desired.

It is therefore an objective of this invention to overcome one or moreof the above-mentioned drawbacks or possibly other non-mentioneddrawbacks of the known beverage dispensing devices.

To this aim, the present invention proposes a beverage dispensingassembly for preparing and dispensing a carbonated beverage the assemblycomprising:

-   -   a source of pressurized base liquid having CO₂, N₂ or N₂O        dissolved therein and having a gas pressure of at least 0.5 bar        overpressure at 2° C.;    -   a beverage unit with a liquid flow path having a liquid inlet at        one end, in fluid communication with the base liquid in the        source of base liquid by means of a valve and a beverage outlet        at an opposite end; an ingredient container receiving means        having an ingredient container installed therein such that when        correctly installed, the content of the ingredient container is        in fluid communication with the liquid flow path for mixing the        content of the ingredient container with a base liquid in the        liquid flow path;    -   a gas pressure regulation unit having a pressure chamber        provided in the liquid flow path downstream of the fluid        communication between the liquid flow path and the content of        the ingredient container; a gas ingredient inlet in fluid        communication with the pressure chamber through a valve.

The dispensing device further preferably comprises a device formeasuring the amount of dissolved and/or entrained gasses in thebeverage, said measuring device configured to measure the amount ofdissolved and/or entrained gasses in the beverage at a location alongthe liquid flow line downstream of the fluid communication between theingredient container content and the liquid line, and upstream the gaspressure regulation unit.

A microprocessor and actuator configured to control operation of thevalve provided at the gas ingredient inlet in the gas pressureregulation unit based on input received from the measuring device ispreferably provided allowing regulating the gas pressure of the beverageto a desired level.

The gas ingredient inlet can be coupled to a pressurized gas source orto a source of food-grade carbonates or acids capable of generatingcarbon dioxide when reacted in the presence of water.

The present invention also concerns a method for preparing dispensing acarbonated beverage comprising the steps of:

-   -   providing an ingredient container;    -   providing a pressurised base liquid having an CO₂, N₂ or N₂O        dissolved therein and having a gas pressure of at least 0.5 bar        overpressure at 2° C.;    -   mixing the content of the ingredient container with the base        liquid to prepare the beverage to be dispensed;    -   subsequent to the mixing step, increasing the gas pressure of        the beverage prior dispensing by mixing the beverage and an        amount of a gas ingredient;    -   dispensing the beverage.

The ingredient container preferably contains a unit dose of beverageingredient intended for preparing one single beverage.

According to a preferred execution the method comprises the additionalstep of measuring the gas pressure on the beverage after the step ofmixing the content of the ingredient with the base liquid and before thestep of increasing the gas pressure of the beverage.

The increasing of the gas pressure in the beverage (further alsoaddressed as recarbonation) is obtained by contacting the beverage witha pressurized gas stream comprising CO₂, N₂ or N₂O and optionally ascent.

With the intention of better showing the characteristics of theinvention, hereafter, as example without any limitative character, someembodiments of a beverage dispensing device according to the inventionare described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 schematically represents an beverage dispensing assembly inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 schematically represents a device for measuring the amount ofdissolved and/or entrained gasses in the beverage

DEFINITIONS

For the sake of the description the term carbonated liquid is to beinterpreted as any type of liquid in which carbon dioxide (CO2),nitrogen (N2), N2O or admixtures thereof are dissolved and having a gaspressure of at least 0.5 bar overpressure at 2° C.

A gas ingredient is any type of ingredient that allows introducing CO₂,N₂ or N₂O in a liquid, in particular an aqueous liquid or water.

Description of a Preferred Embodiment

FIG. 1 schematically represents a beverage dispensing assembly accordingto the invention, for preparing and dispensing a carbonated beverage theassembly comprising:

-   -   a source (1) of pressurized base liquid having CO₂, N₂ or N₂O        dissolved therein and having a gas pressure of at least 0.5 bar        overpressure at 2° C.;    -   a beverage unit (2) with a liquid flow path (4) having a liquid        inlet (3) at one end, in fluid communication with the base        liquid contained in the source of pressurized gas by means of a        valve and a beverage outlet (5) comprising a dispense valve at        an opposite end; an ingredient container receiving means (6)        having an ingredient container (7) installed therein such that        when correctly installed, the content of the ingredient        container is in fluid communication with the liquid flow path        for mixing the content of the ingredient container with a base        liquid in the liquid flow path;    -   a gas pressure regulation unit (8) having with a pressure        chamber (9) provided in the liquid flow path downstream of the        fluid communication between the liquid flow path and the content        of the ingredient container; a gas ingredient inlet in fluid        communication with the pressure chamber through a valve (10);        and    -   a device (11) for measuring the amount of dissolved and/or        entrained gasses in the beverage, said measuring device        configured to measure the amount of dissolved and/or entrained        gasses in the beverage at a location along the liquid flow line        downstream of the fluid communication between the ingredient        container content and the liquid line, and upstream the gas        pressure regulation unit.

The dispensing assembly further preferably comprises a microprocessorand actuator (12) configured to control operation of the valve providedat the gas ingredient inlet in the gas pressure regulation unit based oninput received from the measuring device.

The valve at the liquid inlet and beverage outlet is preferably operableby means of a tap handle.

The source of pressurized base liquid is preferably a keg orbag-in-bottle type of container comprising an inner, collapsible bladderor bag containing the beverage to be dispensed, which is contained in anouter, more rigid container have been used. Recently, cost effectivebag-in-containers have been developed allowing their extensive use inmass consumer goods such as beer kegs, cider kegs, and the like (cf.e.g., EP2146832, EP2148770, WO2010/031764, EP2152494, EP2152494,EP2152486, EP2152486, EP2148771).

The base liquid has CO₂, N₂ or N₂O dissolved therein and has a gaspressure of at least 0.5 bar overpressure at 2° C. Suitable base liquidsare amongst others, carbonated water; a fermented malt based beveragesuch as beer; a beer like beverage; cider or a cider like beverage.

The beverage unit comprises a liquid flow path having a liquid inlet atone end, coupled in fluid communication to the source of pressurized gasby means of a valve and a beverage outlet comprising a dispense valve atan opposite end;

The base liquid inlet is preferably also coupled to a source ofpressurized gas containing food grade CO₂, N₂ or N₂O through a gasvalve.

The ingredient container preferably contains exactly one unit dose ofbeverage ingredient and is therefore suited for preparing exactly onebeverage allowing maximal flexibility to customize a beverage to bedispensed. The ingredient container is preferably of the kind generallyaddressed as pods or capsules and will be referred to as such in thedescription below.

The pod or capsule can contain a solid or liquid ingredient, varyingfrom hop concentrates, fruit concentrates, sweeteners, bitteringadditives, concentrated spices, foaming promoters, concentratedmalt-based liquids, concentrated fermented liquids, concentrated beer,colorants and or mixtures thereof.

The gas pressure regulation unit comprises a pressure chamber providedin the liquid flow path downstream of the fluid communication betweenthe liquid flow path and the content of the ingredient container; a gasingredient inlet in fluid communication with the pressure chamberthrough a valve.

The gas ingredient inlet preferably is a jet nozzle allowing spargingpressurized CO₂, N₂ or N₂O in the pressure chamber, preferably in adirection opposite the flowing direction of the beverage in the beverageflow path, thereby allowing dissolving CO₂, N₂ or N₂O in the beveragestream and thus carbonating the beverage to a desired gas pressurelevel. Both gas ingredients may be scented by a flavour, the flavourbeing preferably chosen from the group comprising: a fermented hopflavour; a fruit flavour; a herb flavour; a spice flavour; aconfectionary flavour or admixtures thereof.

According to an alternative embodiment, the source of gas ingredient isa solid or liquid comprising effervescent or chemical reactantsincluding all known, food-grade carbonates or acids that are capable ofgenerating carbon dioxide when reacted in the presence of water.

The device for measuring the amount of dissolved and/or entrained gassesin the beverage, is schematically represented in FIG. 2, and includes afirst entrained air measurement module 14 assigned to the beverage flowpath; a bleed line 16; a second entrained air measurement module 18assigned to the bleed line and a dissolved air/gas determinationprocessor module 20. The first entrained air measurement module 14 isarranged in relation to the beverage flow path, for sensing entrainedair in the beverage mixture and providing a first entrained airmeasurement module signal via line 14 a containing information aboutsensed entrained air in the beverage mixture flowing through the flowpath. The bleed line 16 is coupled to flow path 3 for bleeding beveragemixture from the flow path at a bleed line pressure that is lower thanthe pressure in the flow path at the measuring device, for example, atambient pressure. The bleed line entrained air measurement module 18 isarranged in relation to the bleed line 16, for sensing entrained air inthe beverage mixture in the bleed line, and providing a second entrainedair measurement module signal via line 18 a containing information aboutsensed bleed line entrained air. The dissolved air/gas determinationprocessor module 20 responds to the first entrained air measurementmodule signal along line 14 a and the second entrained air measurementmodule signal along line 18 a, each signal being received via acontroller module; determines dissolved air/gas in the beverage mixtureflowing in the flow path based on a difference between the sensed flowpath line entrained air and the sensed bleed line entrained air; andprovides a dissolved air/gas determination processor module signal 20 acontaining information about the same.

The microprocessor and actuator are preferably provided which areconfigured to control operation of the valve(s) of the assembly providedat the gas ingredient inlet in the gas pressure regulation unit based onthe dissolved air/gas determination processor module signal signalprovided by the device for measuring the amount of dissolved and/orentrained gasses

The method of preparing and dispensing a beverage with the aboveassembly is easy, user friendly and comprises:

-   -   providing an ingredient container;    -   providing a pressurised base liquid having CO₂, N₂ or N₂O        dissolved therein and having a gas pressure of at least 0.5 bar        overpressure at 2° C.;    -   mixing the content of the ingredient container with the base        liquid to prepare the beverage to be dispensed;    -   subsequent to the mixing step, increasing the gas pressure of        the beverage prior dispensing by mixing the beverage and an        amount of a gas ingredient;    -   dispensing the beverage.

Upon inserting a pod or capsule with a desired ingredient in theingredient container receiving means, beverage dispensing can beactivated by opening the valve at the flow path inlet, thereby allowinga predetermined amount of base liquid to enter the beverage flow pathand mixing the content of the pod or capsule in the base liquid.

It has been observed that upon mixing with at least some ingredients,gas pressure on the beverage (base liquid+mixed ingredient(s)) reducesdue to gas scavenging properties of the ingredient.

Such gas pressure drop has an important influence on the perceived tasteand freshness sensation of a consumer consuming the beverage, especiallyin case of beer or cider. Therefore, the assembly comprises a gaspressure regulation unit, wherein the mixed beverage is contacted withCO2, N2 or N2O increasing the gas level in the beverage and compensatingfor the gas loss occurred during mixing.

In order to fine tune control of the gas pressure regulation orincreasing the gas pressure it is preferred that the gas level or levelof CO₂, N₂ or N₂O dissolved in the beverage is measured post mixing. Theoutcome of this measurement is used for determining the gas pressureincrease to be realised during the gas pressure regulation step thathence can be amended in terms of duration, amount of CO₂, N₂ or N₂O fedand/or pressure of the CO₂, N₂ or N₂O fed.

Methods for increasing the gas pressure in a liquid are well-known inthe art and it is within the reach of a person skilled in the art todetermine the specifics and settings of the gas pressure increase basedon the gas increase to be realised.

As, according to the invention, the base liquid is carbonated priormixing, a limited gas pressure regulation step will be needed onlyincreasing the gas pressure level in small amounts, allowing performingthis step in a rather quick manner not unduly increasing the dispensetime for the beverage.

1. A beverage dispensing assembly for preparing and dispensing abeverage the assembly comprising: a source of pressurized base liquidhaving CO₂, N₂ or N₂O dissolved therein and having a gas pressure of atleast 0.5 bar overpressure at 2° C.; a beverage unit with a liquid flowpath having a liquid inlet at one end in fluid communication with thebase liquid in the source of base liquid by means of a valve and abeverage outlet at an opposite end; an ingredient container receivingmeans having an ingredient container installed therein such that whencorrectly installed, the content of the ingredient container is in fluidcommunication with the liquid flow path for mixing the content of theingredient container with a base liquid in the liquid flow path; a gaspressure regulation unit having a pressure chamber provided in theliquid flow path downstream of the fluid communication between theliquid flow path and the content of the ingredient container; and a gasingredient inlet in fluid communication with the pressure chamberthrough a valve.
 2. The assembly according to claim 1 comprising: adevice for measuring the amount of dissolved and/or entrained gasses inthe beverage, said measuring device configured to measure the amount ofdissolved and/or entrained gasses in the beverage at a location alongthe liquid flow line downstream of the fluid communication between theingredient container content and the liquid line, and upstream the gaspressure regulation unit.
 3. The assembly according to claim 1comprising a microprocessor and actuator configured to control operationof the valve provided at the gas ingredient inlet in the gas pressureregulation unit based on input received from the measuring device. 4.The assembly according to any of claim 1, wherein the gas ingredientinlet is coupled to a pressurized gas source.
 5. The assembly accordingto claim 4, wherein the gas in the pressurized gas source comprises atleast one of CO₂, N₂ or N₂O.
 6. The assembly according to claim 5,wherein the gas ingredient inlet is coupled to a source of food-gradecarbonates or acids capable of generating carbon dioxide when reacted inthe presence of water.
 7. A method for preparing dispensing a carbonatedbeverage comprising the steps of: providing an ingredient container;providing a pressurised base liquid having CO₂, N₂ or N₂O dissolvedtherein and having a gas pressure of at least 0.5 bar overpressure at 2°C.; mixing the content of the ingredient container with the base liquidto prepare the beverage to be dispensed; subsequent to the mixing step,increasing the gas pressure of the beverage prior dispensing by mixingthe beverage and an amount of a gas ingredient; and dispensing thebeverage.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein said ingredient containercomprises a unit dose of beverage ingredient for preparation of onesingle beverage.
 9. The method of claim 7, comprising the additionalstep of measuring the gas pressure on the beverage after the step ofmixing the content of the ingredient with the base liquid and before thestep of increasing the gas pressure of the beverage.
 10. The methodaccording to claim 8, wherein the increasing of the gas pressure isobtained by contacting the beverage with a pressurized gas streamcomprising CO₂, N₂ or N₂O.
 11. The method according to claim 11, whereinthe pressurized gas is scented.
 12. The assembly according to claim 2comprising a microprocessor and actuator configured to control operationof the valve provided at the gas ingredient inlet in the gas pressureregulation unit based on input received from the measuring device. 13.The method according to claim 9, wherein the increasing of the gaspressure is obtained by contacting the beverage with a pressurized gasstream comprising CO₂, N₂ or N₂O.
 14. The method according to claim 10,wherein the increasing of the gas pressure is obtained by contacting thebeverage with a pressurized gas stream comprising CO₂, N₂ or N₂O.